Author: Kayode Akinwumi

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that referee David Coote’s career in the Premier League is finished after a video allegedly showing him insulting Liverpool surfaced. The video, which went viral on Monday, allegedly features a man’s voice calling Liverpool the “s” word and former manager Jurgen Klopp the “c” word. Coote has been suspended by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) pending an investigation. Carragher expressed doubt in Coote’s future in refereeing on the podcast The Overlap, stating that he is unsure how Coote can continue to referee in England, particularly given the intense scrutiny referees face on…

Kayode Akinwumi Manchester United legend Roy Keane has criticized Alejandro Garnacho for his subdued celebration after scoring against Leicester City in the Premier League. Garnacho, 20, scored United’s third goal in a 3-0 victory but opted for a muted reaction in front of the Stretford End. Keane, known for his passionate and outspoken nature, expressed his disapproval on the “Stick to Football” podcast, stating that if a player cannot celebrate a goal, “there is something drastically wrong.” Keane believes that scoring a goal is the culmination of a week’s hard work and that players should revel in the moment, especially…

Marc Cucalon, a highly regarded youth player for Real Madrid, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 19 due to complications from a serious knee injury. Cucalon, who joined Real Madrid’s academy in 2016, was considered a talented midfielder with a bright future. He suffered a ruptured ACL during a UEFA Youth League match in Glasgow on September 6, 2022. After enduring 796 days of recovery and setbacks, including an uncommon bacterial infection that affected the cartilage in his knee, Cucalon has made the difficult decision to step away from the sport. In an emotional Instagram…

Four Premier League clubs have taken legal action to seek compensation if Manchester City is found guilty of breaking financial rules. Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur have all filed potential claims before a statute of limitations deadline last week. These claims stem from allegations against Manchester City, first published by Der Spiegel in November 2018, based on leaked documents known as “Football Leaks”. The allegations involve 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules, including failure to provide accurate financial information over nine seasons. The clubs are expected to claim for loss of earnings if Manchester City is found…

England captain Harry Kane has publicly criticized his teammates for withdrawing from the national team squad ahead of crucial matches. Kane expressed his disapproval of players prioritizing club commitments over international duty, stating that “England comes before anything.” Eight players, including Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Declan Rice, withdrew from interim manager Lee Carsley’s squad on Monday, just days after the initial announcement. Some of these withdrawals followed statements from club managers indicating that their players would not be released for international duty. Kane, who has 101 caps for England, suggested that the absence of a permanent manager might be…

Cristiano Ronaldo was honored earlier this week with the Quina de Platino award from the Portuguese Football Federation for his 200 international caps. During his acceptance speech, he spoke about his journey with the national team, his goals for the future, and the value of playing for one’s country. Ronaldo spoke about how his goals for the national team have evolved over time. He started with the dream of making his debut, then aimed for 25 caps, then 50. He eventually set his sights on 100, then 150, and finally 200. He said,”I’m very proud, very fulfilled; it’s been a…

French Footballer Wissam Ben Yedder was given a two-year suspended prison sentence for sexual assault. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday following his trial last month in Nice, France. Ben Yedder’s lawyers confirmed the sentence to the Associated Press and stated that he plans to appeal the ruling. The prosecution had requested a two-and-a-half year sentence, with 18 months suspended. In addition to the suspended sentence, Ben Yedder was ordered to pay €5,000 ($5,300) in compensation to the victim and must undergo treatment. The victim had requested €25,000 in damages and was said to be in shock following the…

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has withdrawn from the Norway squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures against Slovenia and Kazakhstan. Despite making his first start since August in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, Odegaard has decided to return to London to continue his rehabilitation. Odegaard flew to Oslo to join the Norway squad but ultimately concluded, after discussions with the medical staff, that his condition was not sufficient to participate in the matches. The 25-year-old midfielder admitted that after nine weeks without playing football, it was natural not to be at 100%. He emphasized the importance of listening to…

Ecuadorian international footballer Marco Angulo has tragically passed away at the age of 22, succumbing to injuries sustained in a car crash a month prior. The Liga de Quito midfielder, who was on loan from FC Cincinnati, was involved in a serious accident on October 7th on the Ruminahui highway in southeastern Quito. Angulo was traveling with four other individuals when their vehicle collided with a 50-tonne metal structure. Following the accident, Angulo underwent a decompressive craniectomy to alleviate pressure caused by internal bleeding in his head. He also suffered a pulmonary contusion, necessitating the insertion of a chest tube.…

A Turkish court has sentenced former Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca to 43 months in prison for punching referee Umut Meler following a Turkish Super Lig match in December 2023. Koca was found guilty of intentionally causing injury, threatening the referee, and violating Turkey’s law on preventing violence in sports. The incident occurred after a 1-1 draw between Ankaragucu and Rizespor on December 11, 2023. Koca, accompanied by several others, stormed onto the pitch and physically assaulted Meler, resulting in a fractured eye socket for the referee. Three other individuals involved in the assault were also given prison sentences ranging from…